Dust-pan



Feb. 26, 1957 E. JOHNSON DUST-PAN Filed July' 7, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. L. JOH N S O N ELMER Feb. 26, 1957 Filed July 7; 1954 2 Sheets-Shet 2 INVENTOR: ELMER L. JOHNSON E. L. JOHNSON 2,782,615

DUST-PAN 2,782,615 Eatented Feb. 26, 1957 2,782,615 nUsnPAN Elmer L. .llohnson,Chicago, Ill. Application July 7,1 9;54, Serial No. 441,77a 11 Claims. c1. (ish) This invention relates to i provements in dust-pans and the like.

The conventional household dust-pan usually has a Wide and comparatively leading edge so formed as to lie flat on the surface from which dust, dirt, and other particles are to be swept OI 2 1 up for deposit into some kind of a refuse container. Frequently, the leading edge of the pan is of an expanse greater than the mouth of the container. O n such occasion the pan has to be tilted so as to shift the accumulations to one side in an attempt to insure their deposit in the narrow-mouthed container. Not intrequently it happens that this may not be done eflectiveiy enough to avoid spilling some of the accumulations back onto the floor.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved form of dust-pan havingmeans for so reducing the expanse of the leadingedge ot the pan so as to cont wts n r n chute nd thereby. aci ita mp ing h q le te l wmq ati n 1 119 the desire refuse Container; to ntb ide a mproved du taz n of t i d having hingedly connected sections relatively shiftable to each other and the bottom oi the pan to constitute the P r a id e ding d e en icqutw rd y d e in Sides to a n rrqwed d n eds with nward y n r ing sides; to provide improved. means associated with the t-P n. an or a i fieqti s the shifti g, of h Sections, w n th p os te po ition and to, pr i an m r d. t-Pa t o this l ld which 5. 9 imp in construqfion. as t ni k its m nufact r ve y c m a d its h h y. ommend d. t hose wh h ve n ed for such a household accessory.

One specific embodimentfof this invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure l is a front perspectiye view of. an improved dust-pan constructed in accordance with thisinvention, the same being shown with the shiftable sections in their respective positions for constituting a dust-pan of more or less conventional appearance;

Fig. 2 is a frontperspectiye of this improved dust-pan showing the shiftable sections positioned-to narrow the leading-edge and provide converging vertical sides;

Fig. 3 is a rear perspective of the dust-pan as shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 hutindicating the pan as such in dotted or phantom outline and thesectionshifting mechanism in fulloutline Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. Zbutindicating the pan as such in dotted or phantom outline and the'sectionshifting mechanism in full outline;

Fig. 6 is a transverse,'front-to-rear, fragmentary sectional view of the pan taken on the plane of the line 6-6 of Fig. l.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, detail part of the section-shifting mechanismtake' "an; the' plahe of the line 7-7 of Fig. 6;and'

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail taken on the plane of the'line of r The essential concept of this invention involves a conventional hooded central bottom portion with pairs of sections at each side thereof hinged together in pairs and one of each such pair being hinged along its edge to the central bottom portion, the sections being connected to a trigger-operated rocker-arm-and-link mechanism Whereby the sections are shiftable between positions wherein one section of each pair is disposed in the plane of the central bottom portion with the other section of each pair disposed transverse to the central bottom portion and positions wherein the one section of each pair is disposed transverse to the plane of the central bottom portion with the other section of each pair disposed in the plane of the respective one section.

An improved dust-pan embodying the foregoing concept comprises a main part A, with hinged and relatively shiftable sections 3, 4, 5 and 6, an overhanging back section formed of the back 13 and hood 7, and handle 8 connected to a back 13, and a section-shifting mechanism B.

The main part A includes the central bottom portion 2 with which is associated the bottom extension sections 3 and 4 hingedly interposed between the central bottom portion 2, and the side sections 5 and 6. The significant feature of this disclosure is the shape and arrangement of the sections so that they may be disposed in'alternate positions with respect to the central bottom portion 2.

In one position, the sections 3 and 4 constitute extensions of the central bottom portion 2, so as to present the conventional Wide leading edge for the pan, with the side sections 5 and 6 upwardly disposed transverse to the bottom portion 2 and diverging outwardly away from the handle 8, quite like the conventional dust-pan. In their other positions the sections 3 and 4 are disposed transverse to the plane of the central bottom section 2 and the side sections 5 and 6 are disposed in the plane of the sections 3 and 4. So positioned and alined the sections 3, 4,5 and 6 converge inwardly away from the handle 8 narrowing the leading edge of the bottom portion 2 and constituting the sort of'chute above such bottom portion 2.

The central bottom ing ribs 2a.

The sections 3 and 4 are of substantially triangular shape and connected along one edge to opposite edges of the bottom portion 2 by piano hinges 9 and 10 respectively. The other edges of these triangular sections 3 and 4 are connected to the side sections Sand d'respectively by other piano hinges 1i and 12. i

The back 13, normally integral with the bottom portion 2, is inclined upwardly and is here shown formed with flutes 13' at the ends. Adjacent each fluted end 13', on the inner face, is a spring clip 34'which coacts with such fluted "ends to provide slotsto receive the rear ends of the respective side sections Sand 6 and guide them in their movement between the "position shown in Figs. land 2.

The hood 7 is formed with a flange 7' the forward edge, more of contour of the back 13, so as to fit down'over' the upper edge of the back '13. Screws 14 are used to supplement the friction grip'of'the' hood flange 7' on the back 13 and insure against itsaccidentaldisplacement.

The handle 8 could be formed in several ways. it is shown bent to desired form from a piece of sheet rnetal. It'has an inward taper and is here shown secured to the back 13 by a boltand nut 15 and a reinforcing plate 21. Such a handle might be secured to the back 13in otherway's, as for example, by welding. v V

The section-shifting, mechanism. B includes. a pair. of

portion 2 is formed with reinforcalong all but less conforming with the A Here specially shaped rocker arms 24 and 25, mounted on the hood 7, connected by links 30 and 31 to the side sections 5 and 6 and by a link 18 to a trigger 16, the rocker arms being normally urged by springs 37 and 38 to position the sections 3, 4, 5 and 6 as shown in Fig. l.

The rocker arms 24 and 25 are pivoted on the under side of the hood 7 by the respective screws 35 and 36. These pivots are so positioned that the opposed ends of the rocker arms overlap with the slots 23 therein in registration to receive the extension 22 on the inner end of the link 18.

The links 30 and 31 are pivoted at 32 and 33 to the outer ends of the respective rocker arms 25 and 24 and to angle brackets 28 and 29 secured to the inner faces of the side sections 6 and 5.

The trigger 16 is a channel-shaped piece of metal pivotally secured to the under side of the handle 3, by a screw 17, in position to be conveniently engaged by one or more fingers on the hand grasping the handle 8. At a point above the pivot screw 17, the trigger 16 is formed with an aperture 40 to receive the inner hooked end of the link 18, which is offset at 39 (see Fig. 6) so as to aline the rear portion of the link with and permit its extension through registering apertures 19 and 24 in the back 13 and plate 21.

The springs 37 and 38 are each formed at one end to embrace the link extension 22, as indicated at 41 in Fig. 6, where the extension extends through slots 23 in the overlapping ends of the rocker arms 24 and 25. The other ends of the springs 37 and 38 are anchored to the back 13, as indicated at 42 in Fig. 6. These springs 37 and 38 are tensioned so that they normally actuate the rocker arms 24 and 25 to dispose the sections 3, 4, 5 and 6 in the relative positions shown in Fig. 1.

This improved dust-pan is used in the following manner:

Normally, under the urging of the springs 37 and 38, the rocker arms 24 and 25, through the action of the links 30 and 31, hold the sections 3, 4, 5 and 6 in the relative positions shown in Fig. 1. As is clear from the figure, this is a more or less conventionally shaped dustpan, and is used in the conventional manner.

Once dust, dirt, and/or other particles have been collected on the pan, the trigger 16 is pulled upwardly. This causes the link 18 to swing the rocker arms 24 and 25, against the action of the springs 37 and 38, from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 5. Such swinging of the rocker arms 24 and 25 causes the links 30 and 31 to pull on the side sections 5 and 6 inwardly which shifts the sections 3 and 4 up into vertical positions transverse to the central bottom portion 2, with the side sections 5 and 6 disposed above and in the plane of the triangular bottom sections 3 and 4.

Any accumulations on the sections 3 and 4 will be shifted over onto the bottom portion 2 and the inwardly converging sections 3, 4, 5 and 6 narrow the leading edge of the central bottom portion 2 and provide a kind of chute which facilitates the transference of the pans accumulations to a refuse receptacle, and especially one with a smaller opening than the normal wide leading edge of the conventional dust-pan.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention is herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of the structure shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A dust-pan comprising, a central bottom portion, a pair of sections at each side of the central bottom portion hinged to each other with one section of each pair hinged to the central bottom portion a handle extending rearwardly of said central bottom portion, and manuallyoperated means on said handle shiftable towards the main axis of said handle for relatively shifting the sections between positions wherein the one section of each pair is disposed in the plane of the central bottom portion with the other section of each pair disposed transverse to the central bottom portion in which position said other sections diverge outwardly with respect of the rear end of the pan and positions wherein both of the sections of each pair are disposed transverse to the plane of the central bottom portion with the other section of each pair disposed in the plane of the respective one section whereby the respective planes of the pairs of sections extend inwardly towards each other in the direction of the forward end of the pan.

2. A dust-pan comprising, a central bottom portion, an upstanding back section along the rear edge of the central bottom portion, a handle secured to said back section and extending rearwardly thereof a pair of sections at each side of the central bottom portion hinged to each other with one section of each pair hinged to the central bottom portion, a hood having one edge secured to the upper edge of said back section with the main portion thereof extending over and spaced from said central bottom portion rocker arm mechanism pivoted on said hood, links connecting the respective other sections of each pair with the rocker arm mechanism, and manually operable means on said handle shiftable towards and from the main axis of said handle for actuating the rocker arm mechanism, for relatively shifting the sections between a position wherein the one section of each pair is disposed in the plane of the central bottom portion with the other section of each pair disposed transverse to the central bottom portion and a position wherein the one section ofeach pair is disposed transverse to the plane of the central bottom portion with the other section of each pair disposed in the plane of the respective one section.

3. A dust-pan comprising, a central bottom portion, an upstanding back section along the rear edge of the central bottom portion, a rearwardly extending handle secured to the back section, a pair of sections at each side of the central bottom portion hinged to each other with one section of each pair hinged to the central bottom portion, a hood having one edge secured to the upper edge of said back section with the main portion thereof extending over and spaced from said central bottom portion rocker arm mechanism pivoted on said hood, links connecting the respective other sections of each pair with the rocker arm mechanism, a trigger pivoted on said handle, and a link connecting the trigger to the rocker arm mechanism whereby swinging of the trigger towards and from the main axis of said handle efiects a relative shifting of the sections between a position wherein the one section of each pair is disposed in the plane of the central bottom portion with the other section of each pair disposed transverse to the central bottom portion and a position wherein the one section of each pair is disposed transverse to the plane of the central bottom portion with the other section of each pair disposed in the plane of the respective one section.

4. A dust-pan comprising, a central bottom portion, an upstanding back section along the rear edge of the central bottom portion, a rearwardly extending handle secured to the back section, a pair of sections at each side of the central bottom portion hinged to each other with one section of each pair hinged to the central bottom portion, a hood having one edge secured to the upper edge of said back section with the main portion thereof extending over and spaced from said central bottom portion'rocker arm mechanism pivoted on said hood links connecting the respective other sections of each pair with the rocker arm mechanism, a trigger pivoted on the handle and shiftable towards the main axis of said handle, a link connecting the trigger to the rocker arm mechanism whereby the opposite swinging of the trigger effects a relative shifting of the sections between a position wherein the one section of each pair is disposed in the plane of the central bottom portion with the other section of each pair disposed transverse to the central bottom portion and a position wherein the one section of" each pair is disposed transverse to the planeof the central bottom p'ortion with the other section of eac'hpair' disposed in the plane of the respective one section, and spring means normally urging said trigger connecteddinkrearwardly towards said handle to dispose the sections in the first of the above mentioned positions.

*5. A'dust pan comprising, acentral bottom portion, an upstanding back section along the rear edge of the central bottom portion, a pair of sections at each side of the central bottom-portion hinged --to eachother-with one section of each pair hinged to the central bottom portion, a hood having one edge secured to the upper edge of said back section'with the-main portion thereof extending over and spaced-from saidcen'tral bottom portion rocker armmechanism pivoted "on-said hood,- links connecting the respective other sections of each pair with the rocker arm mechanism, manually operable means for actuating the rocker arm mechanism, for relatively shifting the sections between a position wherein the one section of each pair is disposed in the plane of the central bottom portion with the other section of each pair disposed transverse to the central bottom portion and a position wherein the one section of each pair is disposed transverse to the plane of the central bottom portion with the other section of each pair disposed in the plane of the respective one section, and means on the back section forming fingers for receiving the rear ends of the respective other sections for guiding them in their movements between the above-mentioned positions.

6. A dust-pan comprising, a central bottom portion, an upstanding back section along the rear edge of the central bottom portion, a pair of sections at each side of the central bottom portion hinged to each other with one section of each pair hinged to the central bottom portion, a hood having one edge secured to the upper edge of said back section with the main portion thereof extending over and spaced from said central bottom portion rocker arm mechanism pivoted on said hood, links connecting the respective other sections of each pair with the rocker arm mechanism, manually operable means for actuating the rocker arm mechanism, for relatively shifting the sections between a position wherein the one section of each pair is disposed in the plane of the central bottom portion with the other section of each pair disposed transverse to the central bottom portion and a position wherein the one section of each pair is disposed transverse to the plane of the central bottom portion with the other section of each pair disposed in the plane of the respective one section, and yielding members secured at the opposite ends of the back and coacting therewith to form fingers for receiving the ends of the respective other sections for guiding them in their movements between the above-mentioned positions.

7. A dust-pan comprising, a central bottom portion, an upstanding back section along the rear edge of the central bottom portion, a rearwardly extending handle secured to the back section, a pair of sections at each side of the central bottom portion hinged to each other with one section of each pair of substantially triangular form and hinged along one edge to the central bottom portion, a hood having one edge secured to the upper edge of said back section with the main portion thereof extending over and spaced from said central bottom portion a pair of rocker arms pivoted on said hood, links connecting the respective other sections of each pair with the rocker arms, a trigger pivoted on the handle, and a link connecting the trigger with the pair of rocker arms whereby the opposite swinging of the trigger effects the relative shifting of the sections between a position wherein the one section of each pair is disposed in the plane of the central bottom portion with the other section of each pair disposed transverse to the central bottom portion and a position wherein the one seetion of each pair"is' disposed transverse' to nae plahe of the central bottom portion with the other section of each pair disposed in the plane of the respective one section.

8. A dust-pan comprising, a central bottom portion, an upstanding'back section along the rear edge of the "cen- 'tral bottom portion; 'a-rearwardly' extending handle secured to the"back section,-a pair of sections at each side ofthe central bottorri'portion hinged to each other with one section of-each pair of substaiitially triangular form and hinged along one edge to the central bottom portion, a hood having one edge secured tdthe upper edge of said back' section with the main portion thereof extending o'ver'and spaced from saidcentral botto m portion a pair' of rocker a s'pivoted on sna hood, links connecting the 'respective othersections of each pair with the rocker arms, a trigger pivoted on the handle, a link connecting the trigger with the pair of rocker arms whereby the opposite swinging of the trigger effects the relative shifting of the sections between a position wherein the one section of each pair is disposed in the plane of the central bottom portion with the other section of each pair disposed transverse to the central bottom portion and a position wherein the one section of each pair is disposed transverse to the plane of the central bottom portion with the other section of each pair disposed in the plane of the respective one section, and a spring means normally urging the trigger-connected link to dispose the sections in the first of the above positions.

9. A dust-pan comprising, a central bottom portion, an upstanding back with a forwardly-extending hood arranged along and over the rear part of the central bottom portion, a rearwardly extending handle on the back, a pair of sections at each side of the central bottom portion hinged to each other with one section of each pair of substantially triangular form and hinged along one side to the central bottom section, a pair of rocker arms pivoted on the under side of the hood, links connecting the respective other sections of each pair with the rocker arms, a trigger pivoted on the handle, and a link connecting the trigger with the pair of rocker arms whereby the opposite shifting of the trigger eiTects the relative shifting of the sections between a position wherein the one section of each pair is disposed in the plane of the central bottom portion with the other section of each pair disposed transverse to the central bottom portion and a position wherein the one section of each pair is disposed transverse to the plane of the central bottom portion with the other section of each pair disposed in the plane of the respective one section.

10. A dust-pan comprising, a central bottom portion, an upstanding back with a forwardly extending hood arranged along and over the rear part of the central bottom portion, a rearwardly extending handle on the back, a pair of sections at each side of the central bottom portion hinged to each other with one section of each pair of substantially triangular form and hinged along one side to the central bottom portion, a pair of rocker arms pivoted on the under side of the hood, links connecting the respective other sections of each pair with the rocker arms, a trigger pivoted on the handle, a link connecting the trigger with the pair of rocker arms whereby the opposite shifting of the trigger effects the relative shifting of the sections between a position wherein the one section of each pair is disposed in the plane of the central bottom portion with the other section of each pair disposed transverse to the central bottom portion and a position wherein the one section of each pair is disposed transverse to the plane of the central bottom portion with the other section of each pair disposed in the plane of the respective one section, and spring clips secured at the ends of the back to form fingers for receiving the rear ends of the respective other sections for guiding them in their movements between the above-mentioned positions.

11. A dust pan comprising a central bottom portion, an upstanding back portion along the rear edge of the central bottom portion, a pair of sections at each side of said bottom portion, hinged to each other with one section of each pair hinged to the central bottom portion, normally one section of each pair is disposed in the plane of the central bottom portion with the other sections of each pair disposed transverse to the central bottom portion, a hood having one edge secured to the upper edge of said back portion with the main portion thereof extending over and spaced from said bottom portion, rocker arm mechanism pivoted on the hood, links connecting the respective other sections of each pair with the rocker arm mechanism, a handle secured to and extending rearwardly of said back section, manually operable means pivotally secured to said handle and connected to said rocker arms and shiftable towards the main axis of said handle for relatively shifting the sections between the above-mentioned position and a position wherein both sections of each pair are disposed transverse to the plane of the central bottom portion, and spring means normally urging said shiftable means to dispose the sections in the first of the above-mentioned positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 288,280 Timoney et al Nov. 13, 1883 637,908 Vroman Nov. 28, 1899 742,859 Gross et al. Nov. 3, 1903 

